Aviation News, Headlines & Alerts
 
Category: <span>Medevac</span>

Plane Crash in Peachtree City Injures Pilot

PiperA Piper Sport aircraft crashed at the north end of Atlanta Regional Airport, located in Peachtree City of Fayette County, Georgia, at 9:18 a.m. on June 29.

According to a spokesperson of the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft went down at the end of the runway 31, shortly after it took off.

According to Lt. Mark Brown of the Peachtree City Police, pilot John Ritchey, 64, of Fayetteville, was seriously injured and was taken by med-evac helicopter to Atlanta Medical Center.

The FAA has launched investigation into the crash.

Medical Helicopter Crashes on Hospital Roof Helipad

bellThe new PHI Air Medical Eurocopter AS350B3 Ecureuil (#N395P) on its first flight had just delivered a patient from Rio Rancho to University of New Mexico hospital. Taking off from the hospital roof, the helicopter crashed, injuring the pilot and two medics aboard. No patients were aboard at the time.

The helicopter lifted off for 30 feet, spun, then fell back to the roof; the tail impacted the building and the helicopter rolled on to its side. It caught fire, but the fire was put out by sprinklers. The top two floors of the hospital were evacuated as a precaution. The accident occurred at a quarter to six pm on April 9, and NTSB investigators arrived Thursday morning.

PHI (Petroleum Helicopters International) flies patients to hospitals, medical equipment, gas, oil, and technology.


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Two Days, Three Crashes, Four Dead, Four Missing


Monday, a pilot and passenger were killed after the Mexican plane took off from Nuevo Leon and crashed in Veracruz.

On Tuesday, a Cessna took off from Mina International and crashed in Tampico, Tamaulipas, killing the pilot and passenger.

Also on Tuesday, a jet en route to Cozumel crashed in the Atlantic. All four of those aboard were recovered three miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale.

Initially, in two days there were three crashes, four fatalities and four missing. However two bodies have been found—pilot Josué Buendía Moreno and nurse Mariana González Isunza,—bringing the total dead to 6. Two Mexican men—pilot Hiram Galván de la O and Doctor Fernando Senties Nieto—are still missing off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. The search of the 4,000 square miles debris field has been called off. Over 1000 lbs of wreckage has been recovered.

Read More


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Medical Evacuation Helicopter has Hard Landing in Mississippi

A medical Eurocopter AS350 helicopter from Pioneer Hospital carrying a patient to Baptist Hospital in Jackson made a hard landing in the back yard of Don Forbush–an open field on Ratliff Ferry Road, Madison County around 9:30 pm on Sept 19. The helicopter sustained damage.

Rescue and law enforcement responded to the scene. The pilot was injured, and transported by UMC’s helicopter to the hospital. The patient he was flying was taken by another MedStat helicopter to University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The MedStat pilot who made the hard landing was commended for saving the lives of everyone aboard.

The incident is under investigation by the NTSB and the FAA.

Video Below

Medevac Crash in Oaxaca


An Oaxaca State Government McDonnell Douglas MD 600N was en route from Hospital Regional de Putla Villa de Guerrero, Oaxaca, Mexico to Hospital General de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico when it crashed with four people aboard.

The crash was located five miles from Oaxaca. The preliminary report lists Captain Guillermo Chavez Medina, the aeromedical Paul Hector Vicente, less than 24 hours old surname Martinez Sanchez (patient) and the latter’s father, Pedro Martinez, approximately 20 years old.

The Medevac helicopter/air ambulance was transporting the infant who was less than 24 hours old.

Bad weather or mechanical failure may have been behind the crash in Guerrero Cuilapan.

Emergency services have cordoned off the area prior to investigation.


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Eaglemed Crash in Oklahoma City

On Feb 22, 2013 at 5:45 a.m., an EagleMed LLC Eurocopter AS 350B2 Ecureuil while en route from Baptist hospital to home base when the chopper crashed between St. Ann’s Nursing Home and St. Ann’s Retirement Center in Watonga. On impact, there was an explosion, and then a second explosion. Pilot Mark Montgomery and nurse Chris Denning were killed. Medic Billy Wynne was injured. Montgomery, Denning and Wynne were aboard. Passing nurses pulled the medic from the helicopter.

One injured person was taken to OU Medical Center.

The NTSB is investigating.
Video Below


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Video of Frozen Landscape of Iowa Medical Evacuation Crash


What: Medical Bell 407 en route from Mason City to Emmetsburg Iowa
Where: Ventura Iowa
When: Jan 2 2013
Who: 3 Fatalities
Why: A Mercy Air Med medical helicopter crash was en route Mason City to Emmetsburg to pick up a patient when it crashed on Wednesday at 9 p.m killing Pilot Gene Grell, paramedic Russell Piehl, and Nurse Shelly Lair-Langenbau.

Read More

Medical Evac Flight Crew Lost In Iowa Chopper Crash


What: Medical Bell 407 en route from Mason City to Emmetsburg Iowa
Where: Ventura Iowa
When: Jan 2 2013
Who: 3 Fatalities
Why: A Mercy Air Med medical helicopter crash was en route to pick up a patient when it crashed on Wednesday at 9 p.m killing Pilot Gene Grell, paramedic Russell Piehl, and Nurse Shelly Lair-Langenbau. The pilot had 2,800 hours flight time.

The weather at the time was a light freezing drizzle, fog and mist at 8 p.m. at the Mason City airport, 27 degrees, and overcast conditions at 9 p.m.

The patient was taken by ambulance to Mercy-North Iowa Hospital.

The helicopter service of Mercy Medical Center-North that employed the pilot is Med-Trans. The nurse and paramedic worked for the hospital.

The crash occurred fifteen miles from where it took off. The helicopter did not have a black box but it did have a tracking satellite system. The Bell 407 was new in April 2011 and had night-vision goggles, a terrain warning system and a satellite tracking system.

The NTSB and FAA are investigating. Weather is being investigated as a possible cause. There was no SOS or emergency communication from the helicopter. The wreckage will probably be relocated on Jan 4 2013. Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department is keeping the site secure.


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Medical Helicopter Crash outside of Chicago

What: Rockford Memorial Hospital MBB BK 117 A-3 en route from Rockford to Mendota
Where: Rochelle, Illinois
When: Dec 10, 2012 8:30 p.m.
Who: 3 aboard, 3 fatalities
Why: A Rockford Memorial Hospital’s REACT helicopter crashed in a field at about 8:30 p.m. in Rochelle midway between Rockford and Mendota. Pilot Andy Olson, flight nurse Jim Dillow, R.N. and flight nurse Karen Hollis, R.N. died on the scene.

The medical helicopter was en route to Mendota to pick up a patient. No patients were aboard at the time of the accident.

Angel Flight Emergency Landing


What: Houston to Decatur
Where: Decatur Municipal Airport
When: Sept 6 2012, 10:30 a.m.
Who: 4 aboard
Why: No one was injured when Pilot Mark Moran made a hard landing in Decatur when returning a passenger from cancer treatment and surgery. Moran is an Angel Flight program pilot, providing free flights to sick people who cannot afford their treatments. Moran came in too fast and would have performed a go round but he didn’t feel he had enough lift to make it over powerlines at the end of the runway. He veered left off the end of the runway through a barbed wire fence. Fire crews sprayed down the leaked fuel.

(unconfirmed)


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Martinique Honeymoon Medical Evacuation has Tragic Ending


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Fabrice Sanchez –

What: Transports Aériens Intercaraïbes Piper PA-42-720 Cheyenne III en route from St. Martin to Martinique
Where: French Antilles
When: May 5, 2012 2:45
Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities
Why: Five minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed between Tintamarre Island and Le Galion Beach, close to Orient Bay, St Martin, French Antilles.

The TAI Air Ambulance Service flight was piloted by Bruno Le Jeune, and was transporting a male tourist cardiac patient from the St. Maarten Medical Center to Martinique.

The patient, Panagiotis Vryonides of Nicosia, was on his honeymoon when fell ill on the “Allure of the Seas” cruise ship. He was from Cyprus. His wife was in Antigua.

More than French and Dutch 100 emergency personnel searched for the bodies between Tintamare, Pinel Island, and Cul de Sac. Divers recovered plane parts that will be stored in Anse Marcel. Partial remains have also been recovered. Recovery operations are being hampered by tiger sharks.

Doctor Jean Michel Dudiot, and Gerard Omere the nurse were both from the SMUR of Martinique.

There had been originally another plane sent to transport the patient but it had had mechanical problems. Louis Constant Fleming Hospital has said that the plane was not sanitary enough for medical evacuations.


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Dulles Tarmac Collision Kills Southwest Airlines Employee

The collision between a “people mover” passenger shuttle and a baggage injured a Southwest Airlines ramp worker. The accident occurred at Dulles International airport. The shuttle ports people between the terminal and concourse.

After the Thursday morning crash, the injured employee was hospitalized at Inova Fairfax Hospital. No one on the Plane Mates shuttle was injured. The worker died overnight.

The airline’s statement
On Thursday, Jan. 26, at approximately 7am, a Southwest Employee was involved in a collision between a baggage cart and a mobile lounge at Washington Dulles Airport. Immediately following the accident, the injured Employee was rushed to an area hospital to receive medical attention. We learned earlier today, Friday, Jan. 27, that the Employee passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. We continue to work with all relevant agencies, including the local authorities and the airport, to investigate events surrounding the accident. The Southwest Airlines Family is greatly saddened by the passing of our Southwest Family Member, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support to his entire family at this time.”

Medical Evacuation Crash Kills 7 Aboard, 3 on Ground

What: Air Charter Services Pvt. Ltd Pilatus PC-12/45 en route from Jagdish Memorial Hospital to Apollo Hospital.
Where: Faridabad
When: May 25, 2011 10:45 pm
Who: 7 aboard, 3 on the ground, 10 fatalities
Why: After the pilot reported flying into bad weather, the plane transporting a patient from a Patna hospital to Apollo Hospital (Delhi) and carrying two doctors, two attendants, the pilot and the co-pilot crashed onto the rooftop of two houses in Parvatiya Colony. The plane’s nose broke off and fell to the street below. It appears that local residents may have taken the propellor and other parts of the plane. It did not carry a cockpit voice recorder or a data recorder.

After the crash, the plane and scattered medical equipment remained on the roof. The 22-year-old patient, was Rahul Raj and the plane’s crew was Dr Rajesh, Dr Arshad, Captain Harpreet, co-pilot Manpreet Kataria, Ratnesh Kumar and male nurse Cyril. Rahul and Ratnesh were cousins, and both residents of Bettiah in West Champaran. Raj, who was in a coma and on a ventilator was being transported to treat jaundice and complications of hepatitis.

In the Sehrawats house, fifty five-year-old Vedvati, her daughter Sarita (19) and daughter-in-law Rani (20) died in their house in Gali, 3 Mukesh Kunj at 10.35 pm. Because of the heat, they were on the roof at the time of the crash.

Sobharam Sehrawats, his son Deepak, and nephew Yash were injured.

The other house that was damaged (but no fatalities) was owned by 37-year-old Chittaranjan Singh.

Both the 3 residents of the house(s) and the 7 aboard the plane were burned beyond recognition.

An Indian Airlines flight to Delhi which was due to leave at the same time stayed on the tarmac at Patna instead of flying into the strong winds.

The plane disappeared from radar at 10:45 pm. It was reported that at the time of crash, strong winds were affecting planes landing at IGI airport. The DCGA is not carrying out the investigation, but it will be carried out independently.



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Medical Evacuation Halted

What: Memorial Star medical helicopter en route from accident scene to Memorial Hospital
Where: Midland Elementary off Broadway Street just south of Highway 24, Colorado Spring
When: Jan 28, 2010
Who: patient and crew
Why: While transporting a 62 year old medical patient, the helicopter’s yellow caution light indicated the helicopter was experiencing mechanical problems. The crew decided to make a precautionary landing on an elementary school field.

The patient was taken to Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

A mechanic looked over the helicopter. No problems were reported.


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FAA Air Traffic Controller Could Not Provide

FAA air traffic controllers provided the pilot outdated flight visibility information that made navigation difficult for Steven Bunker. Bunker had requested an “airport surveillance radar approach”, a ground-based radar approach. After the FAA air traffic controller told him she could not provide “airport surveillance radar approach” service, the four people in Bunker’s helicopter died.

On Sept. 27, 2008, the medevac helicopter that crashed in a wooded area of Walker Mill Regional Park: Kenneth Mallard, State police pilot Stephen J. Bunker, Trooper 1st Class Mickey C. Lippy and Ashley J. Younger.

Jordan Wells who was also aboard, survived.

Kenneth Mallard was an EMT for the Waldorf Volunteer Rescue Squad. Michael Loyola Rowan, his wife Tanya Mallard’s lawyer, is filing a $7 million federal lawsuit against the FAA for ” not doing everything necessary to ensure a safe landing for the Maryland State Police Trooper 2 helicopter.” Christina P. Lippy has sued for $15 million.


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LifeNet Frozen After Crash


Pictured: A LifeNet Eurocopter AS-350B-3 Ecureuil. The one in the crash is
registration # N509AM

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer David J Transier

What: AirMethods American Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil en route from Marana to Southeast Arizona Medical Center
Where: Near Park and 1st Avenue, Tucson, Arizona
When: July 28, 2010, 2 pm
Who: pilot, flight nurse and paramedic
UPDATE: LifeNet flights have been halted but crews will return to service at an unspecified time after debriefing. Pilot Alex Kelley, paramedic Brenda French, and flight nurse Parker Summons died when theAS350 B3 Eurocopter “LifeNet 12” crashed in an Arizona neighborhood while returning from maintenance at Marana Regional Airport to Douglas.
Read More


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Eurocopter Medevac Crew Perishes in AZ Neighborhood


Pictured: A LifeNet Eurocopter AS-350B-3 Ecureuil. The one in the crash is
registration # N509AM

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer David J Transier

What: AirMethods American Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil en route from Marana to Southeast Arizona Medical Center
Where: Near Park and 1st Avenue, Tucson, Arizona
When: July 28, 2010, 2 pm
Who: pilot, flight nurse and paramedic
Why: On a medical helicopter service LifeNet Arizona flight, the crew had recently spoken to ATC when the helicopter crashed in a residential neighborhood behind a house. A witness said the pilot directed the helicopter away from the house; and that the engine made “popping noises” before it went silent. It’s rotors stopped, and it fell from the sky. No patients were aboard, but the crew died on the scene.

Video


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Oklahoma Medevac Crash

What: EagleMed LLC Eurocopter A-Star 350 helicopter en route from Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City to a hospital about 90 miles away in Okeene
Where: 50 miles northwest of Oklahoma City
When: July 22 2010
Who: Pilot Al Harrison, 56, of Edmond, and nurse Ryan Duke, 35, of Oklahoma City, died in the crash
Why: While en route to pick up a patient, the helicopter crashed in a field near Kingfisher shortly after 7:30 p.m. The pilot and a nurse died in the crash; a paramedic sustained serious injuries.

A source reported that the crew was having trouble with a door on the helicopter, and a piece flew off and hit the rotor shortly before the crash, but that information is unconfirmed.


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S Dakota Medical Helicopter Bird Strike

What: (new) Avera Careflight helicopter
Where: S Dakota
When: November 2, 2009
Who: Pilot Craig Hilzendager and EMT Terry Willis
Why: While en route, the new helicopter had a bird strike (specifically duck) that shattered the helicopter cockpit window, and injured the EMT.

The landing was simplified by night vision goggles which made it possible for the pilot and EMT to be able to see the ground.


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Bolivia: Cessna 210 fatality


Pictured: A Cessna 210M in Bolivia
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Giovanni Francisco Rodriguez Bravo

What: Cessna 210M en route from Concepcion to El Trompillo Airport
Where: Concepcion, Bolivia
When: April 11, 2009
Who: Pilot and 3 passengers
Why: The cessna impacted terrain shortly after taking off from Concepcion Airport Concepcion, Bolivia.

The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers, all Bolivian citizens, were fatally injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. The flight was operating on a visual flight rules flight plan from Concepcion to El Trompillo Airport (SLET), Santa Cruz, Bolivia.


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Cessna Pilot Patient and Passenger Glides Safely to Emergency Landing


What: Cessna 210 en route from Aurora, Illinois to Holman Field in St. Paul (for patient pickup) en route to Waukegan, Illinois.
Where: Lake Elmo, MN, south of 10th Street North between Inwood Avenue North and Keats Avenue North, north of Interstate 94.
When: Wednesday morning 10:30 am Dec 10
Who: 1 pilot and 2 passengers
Why: Shortly after takeoff, the Angel Flight experienced engine problems at 3,000 feet. With insufficient power to stay in the air, the plane glided to a landing 1n a soybean field. Another Angel Flight volunteer pilot completed the cancer patient’s flight to medical treatment.


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Evacuation Ordered after Helicopter Crash

Evacuation was ordered for those living near the radio tower that was involved in the Air Angels helicopter crash in Aurora Illinois, 42 miles outside of Chicago, specifically those living in the Amli and Oakhurst North apartments and homes on Riverstone Drive and Riverstone Court. The crash site is the Night Heron Marsh – part of the DuPage County Forest Preserve – at the intersection of Eola Road and Waterstone Drive on the Aurora’s far east side. The helicopter clipped a guy wire connected to a 750-foot tall WBIG radio antennae tower on the west side of Eola Road. Structural damage to the tower is being investigated. The top of the tower has been removed. Ironically, a helicopter was involved in the remediation procedures.

Read More about the Medical Evacuation Crash


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Medical Evacuation Helicopter Crashes in Chicago

What: Air Angels Inc.emergency medical transport Bell 222 helicopter en route from Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago from Valley West Hospital in Sandwich. The helicopter was based out of Clow airport in Bolingbrook.
Where: Crashed in a corn field near a residential area in east Aurora near Eola Road and Liberty Street, and was engulfed in flames.
When: Oct 15 Went down about midnight
Who: victims included three crew members and the little girl.
Why: The little girl was being transported to the hospital because of epileptic seizures. Witnesses report that after the helicopter crashed, it exploded. There is speculation that the helicopter struck a 750-foot tall radio transmission tower which is now about 15-feet off center. One witness reported a midair explosion, and then another explosion after the helicopter hit the ground. Two of the tower’s guy wires were impacted during the crash.


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Maryland Reviews Medevac guidelines

From now on in Maryland, it’s Doctor’s Choice. Doctor consults will be required for ambulance teams to decide on flying some accident victims with non-traumatic injuries. This because in the accident listed below, the victim survived the initial car crash but -along with the emergency crew-not the air ambulance ride. Maryland has been criticized for using expensive and potentially dangerous helicopters when a ground ambulance would do. Across the US, there have been eight fatal crashes in the past 12 month period.

What: American Eurocopter Dauphin II
Where: Helicopter left its hanger at Andrews Air Force Base. suburban Washington park in a wooded area of Walker Mill Regional Park off of Ritchie Road.
When: Sunday
Who: Killed in the crash besides Bunker were Trooper First Class Mickey Lippy, EMT-B Tonya Mallard of the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and Ashley Younger, a 17-year-old who was the second victim from the Waldorf car accident.
Why: The helicopter was transporting car crash victims to the hospital. One eighteen year old crash victim survived both the car crash and the helicopter crash, and was transported to the hospital in critical condition.


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Canada Medical Plane Catches Fire


What: Medical Beech B200 two-turbo prop registered to Keewatin Air of Winnipeg. en route from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
Where: emergency landing in Manitoba
When: Wednesday night
Who: a woman , her 11-month-old boy, two nursing staff and two pilots
Why: The plane caught fire. The pilot advised he would have to land at the local airport.
After landing, the occupants were all taken to the Cross Lake nursing station before they were put on a flight to Winnipeg

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